10 of Canada’s Best Ice Fishing Locations

Canada, with its long, cold winters is one of the best nations in the world for winter camping and ice fishing. These are some of the best areas in the country to camp near and to try your hand at the popular sport of ice fishing.

1. Rennie, Manitoba

You’ll find the Inverness Falls Resort in the town of Rennie, Manitoba. This is a wonderful winter playground that’s ideal for catching perch and northern pike.

After a long day of ice fishing you’ll be able to relax in the sauna and hot tub at the resort.

2. Lake Simcoe, Ontario

Lake Simcoe is by far one of the most popular fishing spots in the country, especially during the long Canadian winters. Once the lake freezes over it’s filled with snowmobiles, fishing huts, and eager ice fisherman. You can also rent heated huts. The lake is filled with a wide variety of tasty fish, such as whitefish, lake trout, walleye, and pike.

3. Lake Nipissing, Ontario

Lake Nipissing is one of the most popular ice fishing areas in the province of Ontario, especially on New Year’s day. You’ll find the frozen lake covered with fishermen, sleeping bags, fishing rods, and of course, many cases of beer. The sunsets over the lake are spectacular and there are 16 different types of fish in the lake.

4. Banff, Alberta

The ice fishing in Banff, Alberta is generally the best at Spray Lake, which lies in the Rocky Mountains just outside of the city of Banff. You’ll find quite a lot of Rocky Mountain whitefish here along with lake trout.

5. Sainte-Anne-de-la-Perade, Quebec

This area of Quebec is popular during the winters for cod fishing. The scenery is excellent and the fish is amongst the freshest in the province.

6. Banning Lake, Ontario

Ontario’s Banning Lake belongs to the Seine chain of lakes. Ice fishing enthusiasts will be able to get their fill of pike, whitefish, and lake trout here.

7. Valens Reservoir, Ontario

Valens is a small conservation area close to the city of Cambridge, Ontario. It’s a popular camping spot in the summers and ice fishing location in the cold winters. Fishermen from all over the province head here to catch large crappie, blue gill, and pike.

8. Okanagan, British Columbia

The western province of British Columbia is home to several excellent locations for ice fishing with Okanagan being one of the best. There are several fine resorts located in the scenic area, including Star Lake Resort. There are three cabins to choose from in the winters that come with wood heaters. The fishing’s great and the scenery is wonderful.

9. Flin Flon, Manitoba

One of the best ice fishing locations in the city of Flin Flon, Manitoba, is Bakers Narrows Lodge. The resort has 15 log cabins, each with two bedrooms. Some of the fish you’ll be able to catch here include northern, pike, rainbow trout, and walleye. The cabins also come with boats, fuel, and fishing tackle.

10. The Ottawa River, Ontario

The Ottawa River, which is located in the Nation’s capital city in Ontario, is an ideal ice fishing destination for perch, bluegill, northern pike, crappie, sturgeon, and Muskie.